In a much anticipated move inside the organization, the Padres Monday officially promoted Dave Roberts to the position as bench coach and named Single-A Fort Wayne manager Jose Valentin the club’s new first base coach.

Roberts, 41, succeeds Rick Renteria, who was named the manager of the Chicago Cubs on Nov. 7 after serving on the Padres staff for six seasons, including the past three as bench coach. Roberts had been the Padres first base coach the past three seasons – also succeeding Renteria in that position on the club’s staff following the 2010 season.

Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said the promotions of Roberts and Valentin parallels the Padres player philosophy of “developing our own talent.” Last winter, the Padres promoted Willie Blair from inside the organization to become the bullpen coach.

“Our primary focus extends to our coaches,” said Byrnes.

“When Ricky took the managerial job, I didn’t give much thought about it me being the bench coach,” said Roberts. “I was focused on my current job. I definitely have a niche for being on the bases. Buddy (Black) said I can use that skill from the bench. It’s a new challenge.”

A graduate of Rancho Buena Vista High and UCLA, Roberts spent two of his 10 major league playing seasons with the Padres, hitting .285 with a .358 on-base percentage. He had 145 runs scored, 37 doubles, 23 triples and 72 steals in 244 games with the Padres.

After retiring as a player in 2008, Roberts joined the Padres front office for the 2010 season before moving to the field. A cancer survivor, Roberts is best known as a player for his steal of second against the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series. The steal triggered a Boston comeback that ended with the Red Sox winning the World Series.

Roberts has also served as the Padres’ baserunning coach since the beginning of the 2011 season, with the club having recorded a major league-leading 443 stolen bases during that time.

Born and raised in Manati, Puerto Rico, Valentin began his professional career in the Padres minor league system in 1986. He played five seasons in the Padres system before being dealt to Milwaukee in 1992 in the trade that brought Gary Sheffield to San Diego.

Valentin batted .243 with 249 home runs as an infielder over a 16-year major league career.